The Shintō-ryoku 浸透力 concept explains the striking effect of a karate technique. Today’s Karate mainly focuses on Sports Karate training, where the blow is to the skin, surface touch, and pulling back to avoid injury. This practice makes a Karateka deviate from the path of Budo Karate, which aimed at ‘Ikken Hissatsu’, which means One Blow Certain Death.
Hence, Karateka who practice Karate as Budo for Self-Defense must understand the concept of Shintō-ryoku, the Penetrative power of a strike that passes through the surface that is targeted. While executing the technique, your target should not hit the surface but penetrate through the target, where your power is transferred through the impact point. This shall allow the energy to continue through and create a shock deep inside.
Testing your Shintō-ryoku through Tameshwari (Breaking techniques) is one of the best methods. E.g., when you hit the 3 boards piled together, then if your technique is correct, then the first board will not break, but the other two or below one can break. This method shows that the force traveled through the first board and breaks the other. In real fighting situation, a well-executed strike with Shintō-ryoku can cause internal damage or delayed pain, inspite the opponent appearing to block it.
The key to Shintō-ryoku is not mere brute force but proper body mechanics—using the circular motion of the hips, follow-through, with a snapping motion to drive energy forward. If performed appropriately, then you shall feel that the force of your strike is “penetrating through” the target, thus making it more damaging and effective.
